I have a question about old wines. I am a complete novice to wines. I have been told that if you drink a bottle of wine from the say 1950s, that the taste is much, much better than say, 1990's - that is, the older it is the better in general it tastes.

I would like to purchase a bottle from the 1950s for a friend as a gift. It is wine from Moldova - Cricova. The bottle costs around 90 dollars.

The price seems too low for a bottle from that old. Granted, the prices in Moldova are much lower. I guess what I would like to ask is the following - anyone have any experience with Moldovan wines (which from my understanding are highly reputable)? And the fact that it is only 90 dollars may mean that it is not authentic. An again, is the taste from a 1950s THAT much better than say the 90s.

I have no experience with Moldavian wines. However, not many wines are meant to age 40 or 50 years. Some Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, if from a good vintage, will last that long. I would think that the wine you are considering would be a gamble. It may have turned to vinegar by now. Storage at cool temperatures and the proper humidity is important for long-term aging of wines. Also, the cork may have failed by now if it was never recorked in its lifetime. The cost may actually be high if the chance of the wine still being sound is risky.
As for tastes of older wine--some wines that are quite tannic as young wines improve in age as the tannis soften. Also, the wines may develop more complex aromas and flavors from aging. The majority of wines are meant to be drunk within a couple years of bottling. Cabernet Sauvignon wines, Barolos, Petit Syrah, etc. may need longer to integrate the elements of the wine and soften the tannins. Many Rieslings are pleasant young but develop complexity with age. Forty or fifty years is a stretch even for wines that need some maturity to peak.

Hi Larry and welcome to the board. This should be posted under the "Urban Myths" column. VERY FEW wines from 50s' are drinkable today.Some of the top Bordeaux houses, Vintage Ports, and Sauternes and German TBAs' comprise most of the group. Have absolutely NO knowledge of either the wine or the Country you've mentioned, so would Question the " Well regarded part". Most wine (over 90%) produced today is for immediate consumption and has life expectancy of 1-2 years. Hope this sheds some lite on your post. WW